The Fast-Growing Flower That Makes A Stunning Garden & Driveway Border

If you want to create a natural, lush look for the landscaping borders around your garden and driveway, choosing bright, colorful annuals is a popular route. It's also a very easy one, and by planting this fast-growing flower, you can enjoy those summer blooms bursting with color in just a few short weeks.

Virginia stock (Malcomia maritima) is an annual originating from the Mediterranean region. However, it has quickly spread throughout Europe and the United States alike, becoming a naturalized species in several regions. When planted from seeds, Virginia stock can grow into seedlings in as little as seven to 21 days. It blooms throughout both the spring and summer with a variety of dainty, radial flowers ranging from lilac to white to yellow for a colorful border that boosts the visual appeal of your landscaping.

Virginia stock also happens to be a hit among pollinators, working especially well with both bees and butterflies alike. As a result, it can pull double-duty when added to your garden, especially if your goal is to brighten up your outdoor spaces while creating a pollinator-friendly garden. Although Virginia stock is easy to care for, knowing the difference between adequate and optimal care can help this stunning annual truly thrive in your yard.

Fortunately, since Virginia stock is an annual, you won't need to worry about USDA growing zones. Instead, for the best chances of successfully growing Virginia stock as a garden or driveway border flower, you'll want to pay attention to its basic day-to-day needs, like water and light. Once it becomes an established part of your garden, Virginia stock is tolerant of drought. This means that, even if it benefits from supplemental watering during dry spells, it's forgiving of minor mistakes, like occasionally underwatering your borders. As long as you offer it the right drainage and pH (mildly alkaline), it's not too picky about soil, either.

Virginia stock grows best in full sun or partial shade. As a result, you have flexibility in its location around your yard, whether that's along the border of an east-facing garden or adding a flair to your south-facing driveway. However, with its sunlight needs, you may wish to avoid any north-facing landscaping that often doesn't receive enough sunlight during the day. That way, you'll be sure to support ample blooming and growth.

While naturally low maintenance, there are things you can do to optimize your Virginia stock. If you want to experience more blooms, you may wish to consider deadheading it, which encourages the plant to continue flowering. However, when allowed to go to seed, Virginia stock is also capable of self-seeding. If you want to see more of these vibrant blooms in the next season, leaving a few seed heads to spread back around your garden in the following spring gives these flowers the chance to return without needing to purchase new seeds or seedlings.